Mixing device



y 1943- w. A. M LEAN 2,319,821-

MIXING DEVICE Filed July 2, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV-ENTOR @IAM A M ATORNEY Patented May 25, 1943 warren STATES PATENT OFFICE MIXING DEVICEWilliam A. McLean, Geneva, N. Y.

Application July 2, 1941, Serial No. 400,754

7 Claims.

This invention relates to mixers and tolike devices for obtainingthorough mixing, emulsification or dispersion of liquids and fluidshaving a wide viscous range. The invention deals more particularly withconstructions for ,adjustably supporting the mixing elements of mixingdevices and contemplates constructions equally applicable to beaters,grinders and the like.

Reference is made to Patent No. 2,250,838, dated July 29, 1941, in whichthe type, purposes, and mode of operation of mixing devices hereincontemplated are fully set forth, the present invention presentingimprovements .thereover.

An object of the invention is to provide a mixing device having novelmeans for adjustably supporting the mixing elements of such deviceswhereby a structure having a wide variety of applications, is obtained.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of mixingdevices in which circulation,

in addition to that imparted by the mixing elements, is obtained toshorten the mixing period. A further object resides in the provision of.mixing devices wherein the .circulatory path of the materials beingmixed may be controlled with respect to the level of such materials inthe vessel .in which the mix occurs to obviatecirculation intimate tothe mixing elements of the devices.

A still further object is to provide improved simple and novel means foradjustably mounting mixing devices of the indicated character upondrums, tanks, or similar vessels.

The foregoing objects and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be more clearly evident from the following detailedspecification in which several preferred forms of the invention aredescribed, said specification being based on the accompanying drawings,in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a mixer embodyingfeatures of the invention.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 arehorizontal sectional views taken respectively onthe lines 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4 of Fig. 1. 1

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are fragmentaryvertical sectional views showingalternate forms of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and with particularreference to Figs. 1 to 4, the mixer is shown as applied to a vesselsuch as a drum or tank In of standard design and size. Such vessels,round in plan, vary somewhat in their dimensions. :Provision is,therefore, made for adjustably securing the mixer firmly to 'suchstandard but varying vessels.

To this end, the mixer support plate II, which is designed to rest uponthe top of the drum l0, may be provided with a plurality of members suchas the lugs l2, adjustably mounted in radial slots [3 formed in thesupport plate, and adapted to be looked as bynuts 14. By moving the lugsl2 into intimate contact with the inner surface of the drum wall, thesupport plate H is effectively mounted against inadvertent displacementduring operation of the mixer.

In the form of the invention under discussion, the support plate isprovided with two or more seats IS in which are supported means such asthe posts l5, the latter being adapted to be adjustably clamped in saidseats as by means of clamp screw means ii.

The support posts 16 are preferably connected with a motor mountingplate I8 upon which the electric motor 19 is set.

a plate I I which, in turn, is secured to the drum Ill.

The mixer is provided with a rotor 20, mounted on a vertically disposedshaft 2| to which is secured a coupling 22 as by means of a set screw23. Said coupling 22 is preferably connected to the motorshaft 24 as bymeans of the key connection 25. It is evident that rotation of the motorshaft will be imparted to the rotor 20 which comprises one of the mixingelements.

Inasmuch as the coupling 22 (and thus the rotor 20) is longitudinallymovable with respect to the motor shaft 24, means are provided tosupport the same. [In the present instance, this means comprises ananti-friction bearing 26 arranged in a seat 21 formed in the supportplate I I. This bearing is preferably both of the radial type to providefor ease of rotation of the shaft 2i therein and of the thrust type tocounteract the downward pull of the rotor 20. Should, however, the rotorbe of the upward thrusting type, the bearing seat 21 may be reversed ascan be understood.

radial-thrust anti friction'bearing 30 disposed in placed to provide thedesired gap between the rotor 20 and the stator 28. It will be notedthat the seat 3| is so formed as to permit limited vertical upwardmovement of the frame 32 and thus of the stator 28, a condition whichoccurs when the viscosity of the material being mixed increases duringmixing.

In the operation of the device; the circulation of the materials wouldbe quite intimate to the mixing elements and 28 and would only cause arelatively slow induced flow in the materials thereabove. In order tohasten the time of mix, the stator inlet may be heightened as by meansof a hollow column 36. This column may be of a height so that its topopening is somewhat below the level of the materials in the vessel. Thusthe flow induced by the mixing elements takes place throughout theentire mass ofthe materials, the circulation being from the lowerportion of the mixer mouth at 37 upward along the walls of the drum l0and then downward into the top of the column 36.

Because of the manner in which the stator is mounted, said stator willbe rotated by the motor driven rotor, said rotation being imparted bythe frictional engagement of the materials passing between the mixingelements 20 and 28. This rotation will cause the mentioned additionalmass circulation by the means 35. v I

For a clearer understanding of the mode of operation and the uses of amixer as above described, reference is again made to application SerialNo. 310,073.

An alternate form of the-invention is shown in Fig. 5. In this form thesupport frame 32 is omitted and the motor support posts and the tierodscombined as leg supports 40. Thus constructed, the stator is heldagainst rotation but may be adjusted with respect to the bottom of themixing vessel by the clamp screws IT. The spacing between the mixingelements may be 'adjusted and set in a manner somewhat different fromthat shown in Fig. 1. The bearing 26*, a counterpart of the bearing 26is supported in a seat 2'! in a cup or the like 4|. The latter ispreferably provided with arms 42 which are formed with eyes 43 engagedover the leg supports 40. Means such as clamps orset screws 44, foradjustably locking said eyes to said supports, may be provided. In otherrespects the structure follows that of Fig. 1. V

The cup 4|, arms 42 and eyes 43 form a support member for the rotorshaft 2| and may be adjusted vertically on the leg supports to obtain adesired clearance between the mixing elements 20 and 28.

Instead of the support member being carried by the leg supports, saidmember may comprise a bearing housing 45 threadedly engaged in thesupport plate I I. This construction is shown in Fig. 6 wherein thesupport legs 40' are pinnedto said support plate and are not verticallyadjustable because of the limited vertical adjustment capable of beingmade for the rotorshaft j 2| by manipulation of the bearing housing 45However, the structures of Figs. 5 and 6 may be combined in thestructure of Fig. 7 wherein the bearing housing 45 may be threadedlyengaged in the cup 4|. The latter is similar to the cup 4| and isprovided with the arms 42 and eyes 43 as described. By this structurethe entire mixer assembly may be adjustably mounted with respect to thebottom of the mixing drum and the gap between the mixing elements may beadjusted by manipulation of the bearing housing 45.

In previous designs the entire Weight of the mixer was carried by themotor shaft. In the constructions disclosed, this weight is eithercarried by the support plate H or III) or the leg supports 40. Thestructure lends itself to being designed for a stator having inducedrotation or for one which is fixed against rotation. Further, thestructure may readily be made to afford a variable gap between the mixerelements as in Fig. 1 or to maintain a fixed yet adjustable gap as inthe other disclosed forms of the invention. If desired, the hollowcolumn 36 may be perforated to permit limited flow of the mass intointermediate portions thereof.

From the foregoing it is evident that devices incorporating theprinciples of the invention may be made despite changes in the form andarrangement of the parts thereof. Such changes are .contemplated withinthe spirit and scope of the invention and it, therefore, should beunderstood that the specific forms herein disclosed are intended asexemplary only.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A mixer or like device comprising an electric motor, support meansfor said motor, a mixing element, means connecting said mixing elementand said motor for driving the former, a support bearing for said lattermeans carried by said support means, and means for adjusting theposition of .said support bearing with respect to said support means.

2. A mixer or like device comprising a support means, a motor mounted onsaid support means, a mixing element, means connecting said element andsaid motor for driving the former, a support bearing for said connectingmeans carried by said support means, a second mixing element cooperatingwith the first mixing element, and adjustable means carried by saidsupport means for variably positioning said second mixing element withrespect to the first mixing element.

3. A mixer or like device comprising an electric motor, a support plate,support legs between said motor and said plate, a mixing element, meansconnecting said motor and said mixing element for driving the latter, asupport member adjustably connected to said legs, and a bearing carriedby said member for supporting said connecting means and. said mixingelement.

4. A mixer or like devicecomprising an electric motor, a support forsaid motor comprising a support plate and posts adjustably mounted" onsaid support plate, a mixing element, means connecting said motor andsaid mixing element for driving the latter, and a support bracketadjustably mounted on said posts and provided'with a bearing forsupporting the mentioned connectmg means. Y

5. A mixer or like device comprising an electric motor, a support plate,support legs between said motor and said plate, a mixing element, meansc onnectingsaid motor and said mixing elements for driving the latter,amember adjustably car bearing in said member for supporting thementioned connecting means.

'7. A mixer or like device comprising an electric motor, a supportplate, support legs between said motor and said plate, a mixing element,means connecting said motor and said mixing element for driving thelatter, a support bracket adjustably mounted on said support legs, amember threadedly engaged in said bracket for vertical adjustment inrelation thereto, and a bearing carried by said member for supportingsaid connecting means and said mixing element.

WILLIAM A. McLEAN.

